Louis L. McAllister Photographs

Louis L. McAllister photographed people and places near
Burlington, Vermont for 60 years. He was born in Columbus, Nebraska on
October 16, 1876, the son of Julius S. McAllister (born 1841 in Lincoln, VT)
and Rosette Gould (born in Vermont in 1851). Julius McAllister worked as a
photographer and dentist in Washington D.C., Bristol, Vermont and Columbus,
Nebraska. Around 1895, Julius, his third wife Amy, and their children left
Nebraska for the Union Soldiers’ Colony in Fitzgerald, Georgia. By 1900,
Julius and Amy were divorced, and Amy and her stepson Louis were working as
photographers in Thomasville, Georgia.

In 1907 Louis McAllister married Cora Shepard (born about 1872
in Vermont) in Holland, Michigan. By 1910, they were living in Queen City
Park in South Burlington, Vermont, where Louis established a photography
studio. The McAllisters moved to Burlington, and by 1919 they lived at 47 N.
Winooski Avenue. They continued to occupy a summer cottage at Queen City
Park, and were active in the Queen City Park Association, which held
spiritualist camp meetings annually. McAllister conducted his photography
business from home until his death in 1963.

McAllister’s “trademark” was his panorama camera which made him
familiar to all sorts of groups ranging from graduating classes to state
police to summer camp groups. In addition he did print 8 x 10 photos, many
of which document building construction and Burlington Street Department
projects, as well as group and individual portraits.

The L.L. McAllister Collection includes portraits, construction
projects, buildings, businesses and events in the Burlington area covering
the period ca. 1920-1960. The collection also includes photos of street,
bridge, airport and sewer construction and repair, as well as group
portraits of clubs, schools, etc.

A group portrait of young boys in uniform and adults in the out-of-doors perhaps at a boys' summer camp. Shirts have a large letter "K". Could this be Kamp Kill Kare? Date and location unknown but may be 1920s or 1930s. Photo #27.

A group portrait of young men and adults assembled outdoors in the summer time gathered in four rows near a stone wall. A large barn like structure can be seen in the background. Unknown date and location but may be 1920s or 1930s. Photo #4.

A group portrait of young and slightly older boys in uniform and male adults in the out-of-doors perhaps at a boys' summer camp. Shirts have a large letter "K". Could this be Kamp Kill Kare? Date and location unknown but may be 1920s or 1930s. Photo #26.

A small group of young boys and their leader stand in front of a small building labeled "Pirates Den". An appropriate flag, skull and crossbones adorn the building and the "pirates" are "armed" with clubs and wear neck kerchiefs and head scarves. Taken in the summer time maybe in the 1920s or 1930s perhaps at a boys' camp. Location unknown.

A summer photo of a small group of young boys and adult leaders in canoes, rowboats and inner tubes in Lake Champlain. A raft like craft with sail is also seen. A slightly larger boat has lettering on its side referring to "Yankee black pirates." Unknown date and location but may be 1920s or 1930s. Photo #19?

An outdoor setting near Lake Champlain is the site for a pageant. A large group of mostly girls (or all girls) are dressed in costume with flags, shields, weapons. May be at a girls' summer camp. Date and location unknown but may be 1920s or 1930s. Similar to mcalA17F15i31 but a different angle. Photo #4.

An outdoor setting near Lake Champlain is the site for a pageant. A large group of mostly girls (or all girls) are dressed in costume with flags, shields, weapons. "Indians" wrapped on blankets stand to the left. May be at a girls' summer camp. Date and location unknown but may be 1920s or 1930s. Photo #2.
Similar to mcalA08F06i08 but a different angle.
See also mcalA17F15i31.

A girls' team takes the field in a summer ball game perhaps at a girls camp. They are dressed in uniform with long sleeved white tops, sailor type dark colored ties and bloomers. Cottages and mountains are seen in the background. Location and date unknown but may be 1920s, 1930s. Photo #23.

A summer outdoor setting is the site for a pageant with an Egyptian theme. A "Pharoah" and "Queen" are in a semi-circle with others. Participants are dressed in costume with arms upraised in a salute. May be at a girls' camp but location is unknown as well as the date. May be 1920s or 1930s. Photo #3.

Summer fun in Lake Champlain is being had by young boys in the shallow waters near shore. Some sail toy sail boats while other wade, row or paddle canoes or row boats or splash in the water. Adult leaders stand on shore. An adult leader and some youth are on the dock; some head for the full size sail boat that is tied to the end of the dock. Location and date unknown but may be 1920s or 1930s. Embossed with McAllister's name in lower right corner. Photo #10.

The pot is on the fire; the camp fire. Eleven young men line up outside behind several large metal cooking kettles. One man wears a scout type hat. Behind the men are pitched tents. A folding camp table is to the right. This is probably a work crew for the Civilian Conservation Corps. Location is Queen City Park, So. Burlington, Vermont. Date unknown but may be post 1927 flood or 1930s. See p. 63 of Images of America Burlington.

Boy campers demonstrate camping skills. They have their tent. One boy uses an ax to chop wood for a fire. One boy holds canned food. Another boy starts a camp fire. All activities at Kamp Kill Kare once located on Hathaway Point in St Albans Bay, Vermont. Photo date 1957/1958.

Cast from a Alice in Wonderland dramatic play production. Seen are Alice, Mad Hatter, Tweeedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, one of the Doormen, Dormouse, White Queen, Queen of Hearts, White Rabbit, Mock Turtle, Griffin, several Cards. Could this be a girls' summer camp production?

An outdoor setting near Lake Champlain is the site for a pageant. A large group of mostly girls (or all girls) are dressed in costume with flags, shields, weapons. "Indians" wrapped on blankets stand to the left. May be at a girls' summer camp. Date and location unknown but may be 1920s or 1930s. Similar to mcalA08F06i08 but a different angle.